As I got out of bed and began to get ready for my day, Hazel was already dressed and heading downstairs to fix herself some breakfast. I was kind of glad because I didn’t want her to see how excited I was about this special day.
I had arrived in Hawaii in November to begin my tour of duty at Marine Corps Air Station, Kaneohe Bay – just after Hazel and I had gotten married. Since our youngest daughter was in school, Hazel and Dana did not arrive until January after the school break for Christmas.
At Christmas, I had been invited to a Christmas Party and met the Navy Supply Corps Officer in charge of Station Supply and his wife. Toward the end of the night, I found out that his wife was a backup singer for Jimmy Buffett at one time. I am a big parrot head and it wasn’t long before I was playing the guitar and we were singing Jimmy’s songs. So, when Hazel arrived on the island and needed a job to keep her government retirement from her position as a USDA Meat and Poultry Inspector, I was able to cash in on this friendship to get her a position at Station Supply.
With my uniform on and my breakfast of a cup of coffee completed, Hazel and I headed out the door to go to work. She would drop me off at the hangar where I worked and then drive to Station Supply where she worked. I wasn’t far from where I worked so this arrangement worked well for us.
I watched the clock most of the morning. As it got close to the time we would break for lunch, I called Hazel to let her know that I had to run home to get something I forgot and that I would check on Dana while I was home. I told her I didn’t want her to worry if she looked outside and didn’t see the car out there.
But I didn’t go home. I went to the exchange where I knew there was a flower shop. I bought a pretty bouquet of flowers and a nice vase for them. Now, I could finalize my special surprise for Hazel.
I returned to the Station Supply building and parked the car in the same spot so it would be easy for Hazel to find when she got out of work. Then I headed into the building to give Hazel my gift for this special day. I remember the look of surprise on her face as I walked into her work area and headed for her desk.
“Oh my! Those are beautiful! But what made you bring me flowers?” she said as all the ladies she worked with smiled their approval.
“You don’t remember this special day?” I said – almost shocked that she didn’t remember.
“No.”
“Sweetie, it was one year ago today that you and I met. Today is July 1st. It will always be a special day to me because it changed my life forever in the most wonderful way.” I could hear the ladies say ‘Ahh…’ as I explained.
She stood up and gave me a big hug. “I can’t believe you remembered.”
“I can’t believe you forgot.”
